Priest – Yoga always an invitation to evil October 9, 2012

From an alert reader. I know nothing of this priest, but I think he offers good advice. Here is the link.

EXPERT ON DELIVERANCE, FAMILY HEALING ARGUES THAT YOGA IS ALWAYS AN INVITATION TO EVIL

At this time of the year when we speak so much about angels and spiritual warfare, there are questions pertaining to unorthodox — but to many, harmless — practices like yoga, which is even advertised, at times, in parish bulletins (along with Catholics retreat houses) as a means of meditation and relaxation, or even exercise. [Indeed, several parishes in the Dallas area offer yoga, in addition to other new age practices]

The argument: while Eastern mysticism, which is the basis for yogic exercise, is contrary to our faith (a form of pantheism), the physical part of yoga — minus the mantras and chants and gods and goddesses — is no problem. What’s wrong with the stretching and deep, slow breathing? [but many yoga practitioners do engage in chanting, often without knowing what they are, in effect, praying]

A priest who specializes in deliverance and healing the family tree argues otherwise.

This is Father Yozefu-B. Ssemakula of Uganda (and now the Washington, D.C. area), who points out that while many are now using yoga as an exercise like aerobics or a means to relieve tension, it has deep spiritual undertones that cannot be avoided by those who believe they have taken the physical aspect of it — the discipline, the twisting, the relaxation techniques and even trance-like state — away from the mystical ones.

“Yoga is one whole thing, it’s one ‘package,’ just like I am one package,” argues the priest. “The split of exercises from their spiritual load is a good analysis in the mind, but it’s not a concrete reality out there. You did not invent yoga, so you can’t split it or put it together as you like. You cannot separate the rituals of Santeria from what they mean and say. For example, have you ever thought of that — doing the rituals of Santeria without its spiritual components? If you can’t do it with Santeria, how should you do it with Yoga?” [Terribly, 2012 Triple Crown winner in baseball Miguel Cabrera is a, ahem, Catholic, who also practices santeria, which is a form of demon worship, just like the death cult “santa muerte” that is becoming so popular in Mexico and with Hispanics in the US]

Notice how Father Yozefu capitalizes the “Y” in “Yoga,” as we capitalize a religion.

He also warns that if a therapist is involved in an esoteric belief system such as the New Age, one should avoid that therapist even though occult-like practices may not be part of the specific treatment. The energy carries over, writes Father Yozefu.

But back to yoga (for our discernment). Adds this priest (in The Healing of Families): “What would you think of a Muslim who comes every day to prostrate himself before the Blessed Sacrament in your church — but who says out loud that he is not a Christian and he doesn’t really care for whatever is in that ‘box’ over there? Can you imagine the children of Israel telling God, ‘No, God, we are only bowing and prostrating ourselves before these statues of Baal just for the stretches it does to our backs and biceps and leg muscles. We don’t really care about about those statues in front of them, it’s not for them!‘

“Do you think God would buy that?” Father Yozefu asks.

“It could be true that they don’t really care about those statues in front of them, but then how would one distinguish between the movements of one who cares for the statues and the movements of one who doesn’t care for the statues, if all are exactly the same movements? Simple spiritual warfare of the saints will tell you that when the enemy wants to attack, he normally begins by twisting things in our minds, such that he can have our consent, because we must give our consent in one way or another — including not conscious consent — in order that he gets to do whatever he wants to do in our lives.”

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Yoga, like all forms of “new age,” is a very dangerous practice, spiritually. Even the various body positions assumed in yoga are a form of prayer – like a Catholic genuflecting before the Blessed Sacrament. All new age practices are extremely dangerous and should be totally avoided by all Catholics. Unfortunately, such is the state of the Church today that numerous parishes – like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and Prince of Peace in Plano – offer this baleful practice. This absolutely should not be, and is a tremendous scandal. I would even go so far as to leave a parish that permits such a practice, because even if one does not take part, the presence of the new age could invite all manner of dark influences into the parish whose effect cannot be easily discerned. I would be very wary, at any rate.